SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Favorites prevailed in Saturday's running of the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks and $60,000 Minnesota Derby at Canterbury Park as jockey Dean Butler swept the two features.

As the field for the Haskell Invitational approached the starting gate and the rain-reduced crowd of 37,090 roared with anticipation, Darren Asmussen turned to his father, Steve, the trainer of superstar filly Rachel Alexandra, and said, "I got goose bumps."

Steve Asmussen rubbed his middle son's back and said, "I do too, buddy."

Seventh Street's multitude of backers may have been cursing their bad luck when their choice drifted well off the rail around both turns of Sunday s $300,000 Go for Wand Handicap at a soggy Saratoga. But jockey Rajiv Maragh knew exactly what he was doing with the classy filly, who reasserted herself after relinquishing the lead in early stretch to register a well-deserved 1 1/2-length decision over 6-5 favorite Isella in the Grade 1 fixture for fillies and mares.

By Marty McGee

CHESTER, W.Va. - Soul Warrior pulled a stunning upset Saturday in the 40th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, surging past a weary Big Drama while outfinishing Mine That Bird in the final furlong.

With Dale Beckner picking up the mount from an absent Miguel Mena, who missed his flight from Saratoga earlier in the day, Soul Warrior returned $48 after finishing a neck before Big Drama. Mine That Bird, the Kentucky Derby winner, was another 1 1/2 lengths back in a field of six 3-year-olds.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Starlarks had plenty of bad luck during the winter at Santa Anita but that turned around in Saturday s $150,000 San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar.

With a wide rally on the turn, Starlarks outfought Strawberry Tart to win her first stakes in the Grade 2 San Clemente for 3-year-old fillies. The result was quite a change from Starlarks s first three starts in the United States in the winter and spring when she was blocked behind horses in each start.

Traffic is something you can t do anything about, trainer Paddy Gallagher said. She s had some bad trips.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Despite being moved to the main track because of the rain, the Cup Turf Classic remained intact with 11 runners. Star Guitar ($5) lodged a rail bid through the second turn of the mile and a sixteenth test and drew out steadily through the lane. Curt Bourque picked up his second stakes win of the afternoon on the Al Stall Jr. trainee.

Cool Diablo took advantage of an early duel by the 6-5 favorite El Cugat and Robo Willie to win the $50,000 Count Lathum Stakes at Northlands Park Saturday.

With Real Simard aboard, Cool Diablo trailed the field early while El Cugat and Robo Willie carved out interior fractions of 24.20 and 48.20 seconds. He moved into contention on the stretch turn and after taking the lead at the top of the stretch he held off a late bid by Mr. Shadar to win by a length. Quiet Approach finished third. El Cugat tired to finish last.

There was truth to the Rumor in Saturday's $54,200 Rossi Gold Stakes at Arlington Park.

Rumor Has It, a free-running front-runner, looked eligible to get loose on the lead in the 1 3/16-mile turf race. And that is exactly what happened.

Rumor Has It raced unchallenged early under Eduardo Perez, opening up a 10-length lead in midway in the race, and gamely resisted the stretch challenge of Major Rhythm in the stretch to score by a neck.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jonathan Sheppard walked the Saratoga turf course during training hours on Saturday morning, making sure the footing was safe enough to allow his Eclipse Award winner Forever Together to compete later that afternoon in the $500,000 Diana. Unfortunately for Forever Together's nine rivals in the Diana, Sheppard found the course to be just fine.

Several hours later, Forever Together set foot over the same course, and as she did last summer rallied from the rear of the pack to register a narrow victory.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It remains to be seen if Rachel Alexandra will run in the $1 million Shadwell Travers here on Aug. 29, but it is becoming increasingly likely that her owner, Jess Jackson, and trainer, Steve Asmussen, will be in the race regardless.

Kensei continued his ascent in the 3-year-old division with a solid 2 1/4-length victory over Warrior's Reward in Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. It was a neck back to Charitable Man, the 6-5 favorite, in third. Flat Bold finished fourth and was followed by Convocation and Saratoga Sinner.